Larry Smith to Serve as Honorary Football Game Captain

AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts Athletics will recognize long-time Amherst Youth Football contributor Larry Smith as an honorary captain at the Sat., Aug. 26 football game against the University of Hawai'i at 6 p.m. Smith - president, volunteer coach, coordinator, player-safety coach and supporter of Amherst Youth Football for the last eight years - will join the Minutemen on the field pregame for the official coin toss.

Simultaneously to Smith serving as the team's honorary captain, Massachusetts Athletics hosts Youth Sports Day at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., the event will include a "Kids Zone" inside McGuirk Alumni Stadium open through halftime that features face painting, a gameday sign-making station, inflatable games and a video game arcade. There will also be a youth football scrimmage on the field at McGuirk Stadium during halftime of the UMass-Hawai'i contest.

"Larry goes above and beyond when donating his free time to the community," Amherst LSSE Sports Director Chris Johnson said. "His contagious joy for the game helps ensure that each player, parent and coach has an incredible experience in the Amherst Youth Football program!"

A former Amherst Regional High School running back and defensive back, Smith continued to invest endless hours, tremendous energy and dedication into growing and improving the organization in the community where he was raised. Smith has coached all three levels in the Amherst Youth Football program, from the pee-wee team through the seniors squad. In his free time he also coaches AAU basketball, Amherst suburban basketball and has coached boys and girls recreation-league basketball programs.

Single game tickets - including those for the Fenway Gridiron Series – and season tickets packages are available for purchase now. Tickets to the five McGuirk Alumni Stadium games are available over the phone by dialing 866-UMASS-TIX, in-person at the Mullins Center Box Office during business hours or online here. All Fenway Gridiron Series tickets must be purchased here. For more information, please visit the UMass Football Ticket Information page.

The Minutemen have six home games in 2017, including five on-campus at McGuirk Alumni Stadium and one at Fenway Park against Maine on Nov. 11 as part of the Fenway Gridiron Series. Start times for all six home games were announced on Thurs., July 27.

The Minutemen will host honorary game captains at each of the team's home games this fall. Check back on UMassAthletics.com or stay tuned to the UMass football Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages (@UMassFootball) each home game week to learn upcoming honorary captains.

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